Alabama edges Robert Morris in 64-56 comeback win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—After trailing the entire first half Alabama outscored Robert Morris 44-33 in the second half Saturday to defeat Robert Morris in a 64-56 comeback win.

Playing its last nonconference game before beginning SEC play, the Crimson Tide snapped a three-game losing streak before opening league play by hosting Vanderbilt Tuesday night. It was the first time this season that Alabama (6-7) had won a game decided by fewer than 10 points. Coming into the game all of Alabama's seven losses were by a combined 39 points to teams with a combined 75-18 record.

Trevor Releford scored 18 points and had a career-high tying six steals and Retin Obasohan scored 12 points and had seven assists to lead Alabama. Rodney Cooper had a personal-best four assists. Karvel Anderson had 16 points and five rebounds, Lucky Jones 14 points and seven rebounds and Anthony Myers-Pate six assists for Robert Morris (5-10).

With Alabama behind 30-24, the Crimson Tide went on a 16-2 run to go in front 40-32 when Obasohan made a 3-point shot at the 11:01 mark. Releford then made nine straight points to trigger the run, canning a 3-point shot to give the Crimson Tide its first lead of the game, 31-30, making a lay-up and then stealing the ball and scoring on a couple of more lay-ups to extend the Tide's lead to 35-30. Obasohan followed with a three-point shot. The Tide led the rest of the way in snapping a three-game losing streak.

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Alabama enjoyed its largest lead, 61-51, with 33 seconds remaining in the game, and had a season-high 12 steals while forcing Robert Morris into 19 turnovers.

"In the first half we struggled finishing plays and we were turning the ball over," said Alabama coach Anthony Grant. "In the first half it seemed like a lot of things weren't going right. We were missing layups, turning the ball over and it was hard to keep up our energy. With the press in the second half we were able to force some turnovers and get out in transition. In the second half defense made the difference for us from about the 16- minute mark. We created offense from our defense."

The difference in the second half was noticeable to Releford as well.

"I was just feeding off the energy of my teammates," he said about the rally. "It was just momentum. I had an open shot and knocked it down and the other guys on my teams made plays in transition."

Robert Morris jumped out to a 9-0 lead and still maintained a 19-10 advantage when Charles Oliver made a lay-up with 3:22 remaining in the first half. The Crimson Tide then outscored the Colonials 10-4 to pull within 23-20 at intermission.

Releford said the Tide lacked energy for most of the first half but gained momentum when they closed the lead heading into halftime. "That was huge to go into the locker room with a little momentum," he said. "Even though we were down we still came out in the second half hungry, and I think we played like it too."

Robert Morris coach Andrew Toole credited Alabama with a solid second half finish.

"A difference of one or two plays can separate winning from losing," Toole said. "Alabama was able to make those plays early in the second half, and we didn't. Once they took the lead it was really hard to stem the tide. That was the difference in the game."

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